„Digi-Ageing – overcoming Loneliness

Abstract

The aim of the project is to help older people, carers and service providers to find solutions to prevent and overcome loneliness through specific training, advice and digital tools. Loneliness is widely recognised as one of the most important and entrenched problems facing our ageing society, as evidenced by the COVID-19 crisis. Social isolation in a pandemic poses an ethical dilemma, especially for institutionalised older people, and active measures are being taken to reduce the risk of infection, but loneliness is a common response to emotional, social and existential isolation. The impact of loneliness also has negative health consequences. Loneliness is a negative emotion associated with a perceived gap between existing and desired relationships.

Partners from 5 countries (Austria, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Lithuania) brought together a partnership of 7 organisations with a long experience in working with older people in order to reveal a holistic approach to loneliness and to develop tools to identify and overcome loneliness.

Outcomes:

Research on loneliness in partner countries; 2. Networking on loneliness prevention and policy recommendations; Digital diagnostic tool for loneliness; A digital tool to prevent loneliness; Loneliness prevention training programmes.